Automotive vehicle transmission



June 20, 1939; P. M. CARTER Er-AL AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONl FiledAlg. 22, 1935' 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. ap y. @fier uis* H.

June 20, 1939. P, M CARTER Er AL 2,162,937

AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1935 mw@E l IMIENTORS.l Phill): M. (rer m vais H. Larven WM, 4 iA EW Euhm.

, June 20, 1939. P. M. CARTER Err AL 2,162,937

l AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION Filed Aug. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3MN Sn INVENTORS.

im. W ,@Mm f5 H Phil? BY [om June zo, 1939.

P. M. CARTER E1'- nu.. `2,162,937

AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE'TRANSMISSION Filed Aug'. 22, 19:55 4 sheets-sheet 4APatented June zo, 1939 AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION Philip M. Carter,White Plains, and Louis A.

Larsen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Vaco Products, Ine., a corporationof Delaware.

Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,261.

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to automotive vehicles and moreparticularly to a novel and im-- proved iiuid pressure operatedtransmission gear shifting device for use with such vehicles.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter andin part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned` bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of 'the invention, and together withthe invention.

description, serve to explain the principles of the Of the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view showing `the general arrangement ofthe present embodimen I Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectionA throughI a portion of control mechanism employed in the present embodiment;

Figure 3 is a plan view, -with certain parts broken away, of the presentembodiment of a qgear shifting mechanism and control therefor;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section of a clutch and acceleratorpedal and the associated control devices;

Figure 5 is a detailed plan view, with certain parts broken away, of theselector valve shown in AFigure 3;

' Figures 6 and '7 are detailed sectional views'of two forms of thecontrol means for the selector valve; and

Figure 8 is-a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8-8 ofFigure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary ldetailed section taken on the line 9-9 ofFigure 3;

Figure 10 is a detailed horizontal sectionof the selector valve; and

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10e are fragmentar-y detailed sectionalviews taken on the sectionlines A-e-A, B-B, C-C, D-D and E-E,respectively of FigurelO.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel andimproved vacuum oper- 0 ated gear shifting device particularly adaptedfor shiting the transmission gears in an automotive vehicle from onelspeed ratio to another substan tially automatically once the vehicle isset in motion and yet under substantially complete control of theoperator. Another object oi the pistons are provided and suitablyconnected to the invention is the `provision of an improved vacuumoperated gear shifting devicev for automotive vehicles in which the gearshifting operations are carried out upon declutching under control of al devicewhich is controlled by motion of the ve- 5 hiclebut is notresponsive to the .varying speed thereof, said controly device alsoserving to condition the shifting device for shifting into intermediatespeeds. A further object is the provi-y sion of a simple and inexpensivevacuum operated gear shifting mechanism which is reliable in operationand in which the selector valve is urged witha force which isindependent of vehicle-speed from its position of-rest by forwardmovement of the vehicle, and which force may be momentarily interruptedfor shifting into an intermediate speed. In'accordance with theillustrative embodiment of the invention, the automotive vehicle isprovided with an internal .combustion engine, a clutch, and selectivelyshiftable transmission gears through which power is transmitted from theengine to the traction wheels of the vehicle, all of the foregoing partsbeing of substantially conventional construction. Vacuum operatedshiftable transmission gears to shift the gears from one speed ratio toanother so that the vehicle .may be operated in any of its forwardspeeds or in reverse, the vacuum being applied from the intake manifoldof the engine to the pistons under control of the selector valve. Meansare provided for constantly urging the selector valve to a normalpositionand other means are provided for constantly' urging the valveaway from its f normal position and against the first means whenever thevehicle is in motion ina forward. Means are 'provided for controllingthe applica-tion of vacuum to the pistons so that gear shifting canoccur only when the clutch is disengaged, and also for moving theselector valve away from its normal position to rst'speed position,aswell position. As the car is setin motion by engagement ofthe clutch,the valve is moved to intermediate speed position and when the clutch isnext disengaged, the gears are shifted to interv mediate speed positionand the valve is released permitting it to move to high speed position,and

' the gears are correspondingly shifted when the 55 transmission gearsand for this purpose vacuum clutch is again disengaged. Optionallyoperable control means are provided for applying vaccum when the vehicleis substantially at rest to the piston corresponding to reverse speed.In accordance with Vthe illustrative embodiment 'means are provided formomentarily interrupting the application of vacuum to the selectorvalveoperating means for moving the selector valve to second speedposition from its high speed positions regardless of the vehicle speed.

Vacuum operated means are provided for moving the selector valve`r fromits normal position which it has while the Vvehicle is at rest, andthese vacuum operated means may be controlled by various means whichcause the application of vacuum to move the selector valve as soon asthe vehicle has attained a. slight forward speed. As

an example of one suitable means for controlling the movement of theselector valve. a valve may be provided which is normally closed but ismoved to open position by means sensitive to motion of the vehicle andnot responsive to variable vehicle speeds, this valve being returned toits normal positionwhen the vehicle is slowed to a very slow speed or isbrought to rest.

The present embodiment is `particularly adapted for use with theconventional type' of transmission having one reverse and three forwardspeeds and is so shownjand described.

It will be understood thatthe foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof. Referring now in detailto the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown intheaccompanying drawings, the present invention is own as adapted .forshifting the gears of a conventional type of three speed and reversetransmission in an automotive vehicle propelled by an internalcombustion engine. As is usual, the internal combustion engine I isadapted to drive a propeller shift Il through aclutch I2,.a selectiveshiftable gear transmission I3 and a universal joint Il. A clutch pedall5 is fprovided for operating the clutch.

'Ihe transmission unit I3 comprises the usual shittable transmissiongears which are moved into their'respective speed'positions by means ofthe gear shifting rods i1 and I8, slidably mounted in the transmissioncasing, and may be moved in case of emergency by means of a lever to bepodtioned in the lever socket I3 at the rear of the transmission. Assho'wn, the transmission is designed to produce three forward speeds andone reverse speed, and the rod l1 is moved forward to place the gears inr'st speed position, or rearwardly for reverse, while rod Il is movedreversely to place the gears in second speed.or forwardly to placethe-gears in third speed position.

Detent means are provided for centering therods in their respectivepositions and for this position*` there are provided spring pressedplungers 2U cooperating with notches 2l in the sides of the rods lI andI8. Interlock means are provided preventing movement of either of therods I 'l or Il while the other rod is not in neutral or centralposition, and this means comprises a plunger 22 slidably mounted in thetop of the casing positioned between 'the rods i1 and Il and adapted toengage in one or the other of notches 23 while the other rod is movedaway from its neutral position.

Power' means are provided for moving the rods I'l and Il to theirseveral positions to shift the operated pistons 25 and 26 are providedslidably mounted in their respective double ended cylinders 21 and 28,one at either side of the transmission casing, and having their pistonrods projecting through the ends of the cylinders and tightly, yetslidably, mounted therein.

At their rear ends the piston rods 29 and 30 are connected to theirrespective rods Il and I8 by means of levers 3| and 32 pivotally mountedon the upper surface of the plate 33 forming the cover for thetransmission casing. Levers 3i and 32 are connected to the rods I1 andI8 by means ofv their forked ends 3| and the pins 35 projecting upwardlyto and anchored in the rods Il and I 8.

Means are provided for applying vacuum selectively and individually tothe cylinders 28 and 29 as required to shift the gears from one positionto another and this vacuum is advantageously derived from the intakemanifold 40 of the engine I 0 having a throttle valve 44, and is appliedto the gear shifting mechanism through a main supply line Il which isconnected to the casing l2 surrounding the slidableselector valve body43. As will be more fully described, this valve determining which of thecylinder ends is subjected to vacuum to move one or the other of thepistons 25 or 25 in one direction or the other. 'Ihe selector valve hasfour positions: First speed or reverse, neutral, second speed and thirdspeed, and may be moved from one or the other of its positions to-anyother positionto control the application of vacuum accordingly. .A

In its iirst speed position, theselector valve applies vacuum throughline 50 to the rear face of piston 25, and this line is open from theselector valve to the cylinder 21 only when the piston 26 is in itsneutral position, passing through the slide valve formed by the groove5| in piston rod 30 where it passes through the boss 52 atthe end ofcylinder 28. Groove 5l is similar in construction to groove 58 shown indetail in Figure 8. Line also passes through a reversingvalve which willbe described in connection with the reversing operation.

In its neutral position, the selector valve causes the application ofvacuum from the manifold 4l to the lines 5I and 55 connected to thecentral portions of cylinders 21 and 2l respectively, and therebytending to move both pistons to neutral position. 4 l In second speedposition, the selector valve causes the application of vacuum to theline 51 and thereby to the forward side of piston 26 provided the piston25 is in its central or neutral Vposition so as to open the slide valve58 forme onthe end of piston rod '23.

`In high or third speed position, vacuum is applied through line to therear side of the piston 26 to move it rearwardly.

The selector valve 43 is also provided with suitable venting aperturesso that the cylinders are vented as the corresponding pistons are moved.'I'hus when the piston 26 is moving from second speed position to thirdspeed position by the application of suction to the rear face of piston`25, the forward portion of the cylinder 2l is vented to atmosphere sothat no resistance is offered to the movement ofthe piston.

y The operation of the selector valve may Abe described in greaterdetail, as follows: Y

With the selector valve in its extreme left position as shown in Figure10, suction is applied to the main port 2, through passageway 2li to thehollow interior 222 of valve 43. from`which it is applied through port2l! tothe port 2N forming the end of port 50. Simultaneously, air is adlmitted through ports 208' and 206 to port 201 forming the end o'f thereverse duct 208, and the diierence in pressure thus established betweenthe two faces of piston 25 causes the piston to move to its first speedposition.

The selector valve, upon release of the latch 8| by clutch operation, isnext moved by piston 10 to the position where its left hand end 90 isopposite the numeral 2 in Figure 10, and at this time suction isyapplied to ports 2 I0 and 2| I, which are then in register, and is thusapplied to duct 51 serving to return the piston 25 to neutral positionand thereafter move the piston 26 to second speed position by the airwhichV is admitted to the rst' speed end of the cylinder 21 and thethird speed end of cylinder 28, through port 204 and venting port 2I2,this air being first admitted to the cylinder 21 through duct 50 andgroove 5|, and thereafter to the cylinder 28 as soon as the piston 26has been moved from neutral position. When the operator next depressesthe clutch pedal, releasing latch 8|, the piston 10 and valve 43 aremoved to third speed position, with' the valve end 98 opposite thefigure "3 in Figure 10.

In this position, suction is applied directly from the right-hand end ofpassageway. 20| to port 220 which is the end of duct 60, and the suctionis thereby applied to the third speed end of -cylinder 28 and the piston26 is moved by air admitted to the other end of cylinder 28 through duct81, groove 58, port 2II and port 222 and venting port 51'.

For shifting the gears to ne V tral position from first or reverse, thevalve 43 islpositloned in neutral with its end 80 opposite the letter ,Nin

Figure 10 by movement of the push pull wire 6| In this position, ports280 and 23| are in register and suction is applied through port `230toport 23| and thence to duct 55 which communicates with the centralportion of both cylinders 21 and 28. During this movement air isadmitted to the rst speed end of the cylinder 21 through port 233 whichis then in register with port 204 of duct 50, or if the reversing valve62 is in reverse position, the reverse end of cylinder 21 is ventedthrough venting -ducts 50 and 6I and bridging groove 240 in thereversing valve slide 62. Vent 240 and duct 63 provide for venting thereverse end of the cylinder 21 with the selector valve in neutralposition.

Venting port 232 vents the reverse end of cylinder 21 and the secondspeed end of cylinder 2,8,

thereby admitting air when the gears are shifted to neutral from secondspeed.

For moving piston 25 to reverse position, a separate reversing valve isprovided `which may be manually moved from forward te reverse positionby means of the push wire control 6| 'Ihis reversing valve comprises aslide valve body 62 which can be moved forwardly and when so movedconnects the first speed line 50 with a line 6I communicating vwith theforward portion of cylinder 21 to apply vacuum to the forward side ofthe piston 25.

The various lines 50, 54, 55, 51 and 6| may conveniently be formed asducts in the cover vbeing positioned adjacent to the clutch pedal I5 iand adapted' to be opened only .by movement of the clutch pedal toclutch disengaging position, I

thereby preventing shifting of the gears while power is' beingtransmitted through the transe mission.

Vacuum means are provided for urging the valve away from its normalposition, asshown in Figure 3 and which corresponds to neutral, towardssecond and third speed positions, and

othermeans are provided for controlling this. movement in accordancewith a predetermined' schedule so that the movement is controlled byother necessary operations, as for instance by disengagement-s of theclutch.

For this purpose, and as shown in Figure 5,

the selector vvalve body 43 is connected at its right end to a piston 10operating within asmall cylinder 1I at the right hand end of the valvecasing 42 and connected thereto. Vacuum may be applied, to move thevalve body 43 and piston 10 to the right, through a pipe 12 connected tothe intake manifold I and under control of a control valve so thatvacuum is applied when the vehicle is set in motion.

Spring means are provided for urging the valve body to the left,.towardsneutral or rst speed psition, and for this purpose a springv15 iscompressed between the` end of piston 'I0 and an adjusting screw 16threaded into the end of the cylinder 1I. Movement of the valve body-`43is limited by means e-f a set screw 11 threaded into the valvecasing 42 andoperating in a groove 18 vformed in the valve body 43,alsoserving to hold the valve body Iagainst rotation. i

Means are also provided for retaining the valve in second speed positionwhile accelerating until the gears have been meshed in second speedposition, thereby preventing 'unintentional skipping of second speed,and for this purpose valve bodlr 43 is formed with a notch 80 which withgroove 18 is adaptedto cooperate with a releasable latch 8| mountedadjacent thereto. Latch 8| is normally urged towards the valve body andinto the notch 80, but may be withdrawn therefrom by means of the pullwire control 82, one end of wire 82 being connected to the latch whilethe other end is connected to bemoved by clutch pedal I as the clutch isdisengaged. The valve-engaging end 85 of latch 8| is beveled so thatmovement of the valve body 43 to the left, as on stopping, is unimpeded,except by spring 8|' which normally clutch is disengaged the other endof latch 8| -cngages the end of groove 18-to hold the valve body 43'against movement by piston 10. The two ends 85 and 86 of latch 8| are sospaced that the valve 43 is .only momentarily released as' the clutch isengaged or disengaged. End 85 engages in notch 80 while the end 86engages in groove 18 and the'valve body 43'is held in second speedvposition by means of latch end 85 while the clutch is engagedv or byend 86 while the clutch is disengaged, but momentarily in passing fromdisengaged to engaged position, the valve body 43 -is free to move tothird speed position.

Valve body 43 is formed with an end 90 adapted to engage a stop 93 whichis reciprocably mounted in a guide 94 and resiliently urged against thevalve end 90 by spring 95. Valve 43 is normally held in neutral'position, but when it is desired to move the valve to first speedposition (extreme left) the clutch pedal I5 is depressed causing plunger93 to be retracted against the tension of spring 95 and thereby'removing the interference of. plunger 93 with the end 90 of valve body43.

'iol

Plunger 03 may be connected with the clutch pedal I5 for operation'bymeans of pull wire |00.

Means are provided for moving the valve to second speed and then tothird speed positions when the vehicle has been set in motion, and forthis purpose means are provided for controlling the application ofvacuum to the piston 10. As embodied, there is provided a valve normallyventing the line 12 when the vehicle is at rest, but causing suction tobe applied thereto as soon as the vehicle has been set in motion or hasattained a speed of from two to four miles per hour. This valvecomprises a valve body I I0 in which is slidably mounted a valve plungerI I I normally moved to venting position by means of a spring ||2. Valveplunger |II is provided with a vent I3 and a groove ||'4, groove ||4serving to connect lines 12 to line 13 which is, in turn, connected tothe manifold I0. At one end of plunger III is provided a pair of smallpivotallymounted weights ||5, eccentrically mounted on shaft ||1 andformed with cam toes ||6 to engage and movel 4plunger-II I.

thereby permitting the gears to be shifted to second speed position ondisengagement of the clutch. As embodied, means are also provided forpreventing this action, except when desired,

and a 'suitable control is positioned adjacent the accelerator pedal |0|to permit this operation to be easily accomplished.

As embodied, spring 15, line 12, valve ||4 and line 13 are suitablyproportioned so that, onV opening of the throttle, the suction in theintake mani'- fold is suiiiciently reduced for a moment, and thisreduced suction is transmitted to cylinder 1 I allowing spring 15 toreturn the selector-valve 43 to second speed position Where it is heldby latch 8| until the clutch is next disengaged, shifting glie gears tosecond speed' and also releasing latch Fig. 6 shows a detail of thecontrol means normally preventing this automatic action and Fig. 'Ishows an alternative or modified form of this control means, in Fig. 6areleasable check-valve is provided in the servo-vacuum line 13. Line 13is divided and passes through the check valve |02 which comprises ball|03 urged against its seat |04 by spring |05 to block the seat opening,and released from its seat by means of plunger |06 which may be movedagainst the compression of spring |01 by the lever |08 pivotally mountedon fioorboard |09 adjacent to the pedal |0I. Ball |03 normally preventsrelease of the vacuum on piston 10, holding it and valve body 43 in highpanied by an opening of the throttle the suction on piston` 10 isrelieved, allowing spring 15 to move the valve to second speed position.

In Fig. 7 there is provided a positive release for the suction on piston10. As embodied, the line 13 passes through both check valve |25 andrelief valve |26, and the suction on p iston 10 is nor- .nally held bythe seatingof ball |03 against its seat |04, and piston 16 isreleased bythe venting of valve |26. Valve |26 comprises a valve body |21 in whichis slidable a valve slide |28 held in open position by spring |23 andmovable to venting position by pressure on the floor button |30. Whendepressed, the valve port |3| is connected through channel |32 toatmospheric port |33, relieving the suction on piston 10, and causingthe valve body 43 to be moved to neutral position. Thereafter, if theclutch pedal I5' be depressed, while button |30 is'still depressed, thespring 15 willmove valve 43 to rst speed position and cause shifting ofthe gears to first speed position, and on release of button |30 thevalve will move to second speed position until the gears have beenshifted to second speed. If the clutch pedal be depressed after button|30 has been released. the gears will be shifted to second speedposition and thereby releasing latch-"8| the valve 43 will move to highspeed position.

In the operation of the described embodiment, the selector valve is inneutral position when the vehicle is at rest. As the operator depressesthe clutch pedal, the selector valve is moved to first speed positionand by engaging the clutch while opening the throttle, the vehicle isset in motion. As soon as the vehicle is set in motion, the

, plunger is moved to the right, opening valve 4 to apply vacuum to theend of piston 10 and moves the valve body 43 to second speed positionwhereit is held by latch end 85 so long as the clutch is engaged. Upondisengaging the clutch, the valve 43 is still held in second speedposition by latch end' 86 and the gears are shifted to second speed byvacuum applied through valve to the selector valve and the gears areshifted to second speed position, this disengagement of the clutch alsopermitting 'the selector valve 43 to move to third speed position aslatch end 86 is moved out of groove 18 and before the latch end 85 isengaged in notch 80. Thereafter, the latch end 85 rides on the surfaceof the valve body 43. When the clutch is next disengaged, the vacuumwill be applied to piston 26 to move the gears to third speed.

When the operator wishes to mesh the gears in second speed, as forgreater power in climbing or for compression in descending a grade, theclutch pedal I5 is depressed, and the throttle suddenly opened whiledepressing button |30 or lever |08, moving the valve to second speedposition by the force of the spring 15 and at the same time openingvalve 65 to apply vacuum to the selector valve and through it to theforward end of piston 26.

As thevehicle is brought to rest, the thrust on plunger ||I is relieved,permitting the valve plunger I I to move to the left, venting thecylinder`1| and returning the valve to' neutral position, and-as theclutch is disengaged vacuum is applied through the selector valve -tomove the pistons 25 and 26 to neutral position.

When it is desired to shift to reverse, the vehicle is brought to astop, the reverse valve 62 is moved forwardly and vacuum is-appliedthrough the rst speed-line to the Vreverse side of piston 25.

'I'he invention in itsbroader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described butdepartures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims Without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

' What we claim is:

1. In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a clutch through which power is applied to thetransmission and means for engaging and disengaging tha clutch, poweroperated means for selectively shifting the transmission gears, aselector controlling the application of power to said means, meanscontrolled by the .clutch engaging and disengaging means for controllingthe application of power. to the shifting means, a servomotor for movingsaid selector, means responsive to movement of the vehicle forcontrolling the application of power to the servomotor and manual meansfor interrupting the application of power to the servomotor. o

2.`In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a source of iluid pressure, uid pressure operatedmeans for selectively shifting the transmission gears, a selectorvalve'controlling the application of fluid pressure to said means, a uidpressure operated servomotor for moving said valve, means responsive tomovement of the vehicle for controlling the application of power to theservomotor, and means for interrupting the full application of fluidpressure from the source.

3. In an automotive vehicle including the com` bination of a selectivegear transmission, a clutch through which power is applied to thetransmission and means for engaging and disengaging the clutch, a sourceof' fluid pressure, uid pressure operated means for selectively shiftingthe transl mission gears, a .selector valve controlling the applicationof fluid pressure to said means, means controlled by the lclutchlengaging'and disengaging means for controlling the application offluid pressure to the shifting means, a servomotor operable on vehiclemovementl at a slow speed for moving said valve, means operated by theclutch engaging and disengaging means for permitting movement of thevalve from one position to another and optionally operable means forpreventing the application of power to the servomotor.

4. In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a

clutch through which power is 'applied to theA tr-ansmission and meansfor engaging and disengaging the clutch, power operated means forselectively shifting the transmission gears, a Vselector controlling theapplication of power to said means, means controlled by the clutchengaging and disengaging means for controlling the application of powerto the shifting means,

a servomotor operable when the vehicle is moving at a slow speed Aformoving said selector, means operated concomitantly with theclutchengaging and disengaging means for permitting lmovement of the selectorto an intermediate speed position, and optionally operable means forcontrolling the application of power to the servomotor. I

5. In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a clutch through which power is applied to thetransmission and meansA for engagingand disengaging the clutch, a sourceof vacuum, vacuum operated means for selectively `shifting thetransvmission gears, a selector valve controlling the ap- -plication ofvacuum to said means, m e ans controlled by the clutch engaging anddisengaging means for controlling the application of vacuum to theshifting means, a vacuum operated servomotor for moving said Valve whenthe vehicle is set in motion at a slow speed, means for. limitingmovement of the selector valve,'means -operated -by the clutch engagingand dlsengaging means for releasing said limiting means, means operatedby the clutch engaging and disengaging means for permitting the movementof the valve from a neutral to a low speed position, optionally ioperated means operable independently of or concomitantly with theclutch engaging and disengaging means for moving the valve to an Aintermediate speed position by vinterruption of the vacuum applied toVthe servomotor and means responsive to movement of the vehicle at aslow speed for controlling the application of power to the servomotor.

6. In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a clutch through which power is applied to thetransmission and means for engaging and disengagln'g the clutch, asource of vacuum, vacuum operated ment of thevehicle for controlling theapplication oi vacuum to the servomotor, and an-independently operablerelief valve for interrupting the application of vacuum to theservomotor.

7. In an automotive vehicle including the combination of a selectivegear transmission, a clutch through which power is applied to thetransmission and means for engaging and. disengaging the clutch, anengine having a throttleand a source of vacuum, vacuum operated meansfor selectively shifting the transmission gears, a selector valvecontrolling the application of vacuum to said means,vmeans controlled bythe clutch engaging and disengaging means for controlling theapplication of vacuum. to the shifting means, a servomotor for movingsaid valve, means rendered operable by throttle operation for moving thevalve from a high to an intermediate. speed position, releasable meansnormally preventing such valve movement and meansr responsive tomovement of the vehicle normally controlling the application of power tothe servomotor.

8. In an automotive vehicle including the commediate speed position andmeans responsive to movement of the vehicle for controlling'. theapplication of power to the servomotor.

9. In-an automotive vehicleincluding the combination of a selective geartransmission, a clutch through which power is. applied tothetransmission and means for engaging and disengaging the clutch, aninternal combustion engine having a throttle and ansource of vacuum,vacuum operated means for selectively shifting the transmission gears, aselector valve controlling the application of vacuum to said means,means controlled by the clutch engaging and disengaging means forcontrolling the application of vacuum to the shifting means, aservomotor for moving said valve, means for limiting movement of theselector valve, means for releasing said limiting means, means operatedby the clutch engaging and disengaging means for permitting mo-vement of.the valve from a neutral to a low speed position, means forinterrupting the application of power to the servomotor for moving thevalve from a high to an intermediate speed position and means responsiveto movement of the vehicle for controlling the application of power tothe servomotor.

10. In an automotive vehicle the combination of a selective geartransmission, a clutch, means for engaging and disengaging the clutch,an engine 'driving the vehicle through the transmission and clutch,power means for shifting the transmission gears from one speed toanother, a selector means controlling the application of power to thepower means, power means for moving the selector means when the vehicleis in motion and means controlled by the clutchengaging and disengagingmeans operation for controlling movement of the selectorfmeans underinuence of the power moving means, and means optionally operableindependently of the clutch.

of the vehicle for applying vacuum to the selec- 'tor movingmeans .and`means for interrupting the application of vacuum to the moving means.

l2. In an automotive vehicle the combination of a selective geartransmission, iiuid pressure means for shifting the transmission gearsfrom one speed to another, a selector valve controlling the applicationof fluid pressure to the shifting means, tluid pressure means for movingthe selecand controlling the application of fluid pressure to theshifter, a servomotor for moving the valve and actuated by iluidpressure when the vehicle is in motion, releasable means for holding theselector valve against movement to certain of its positions andoptionally operable means for controlling the application of fluidpressure to the servomotor.

14. In a uid pressure operated gear shifter having a selector valve, aservomotor for moving the valve and actuated by iluid pressure when thevehicle is in motion, a.clutch, a valve opened on disengagement of theclutch, and controlling the application of power to the shifter throughthe selector valve and means for controlling the application of iluidpressure to the'servomotor to move it from high to low and intermediatespeed positions.

15. In a fluid presssure operated gear shifter having a selector valve,a servomotor for moving the valve and actuated by uid presssure when thevehicle is in motion, a clutch, a valve opened on disengagement of theclutch, and controlling the application4 of power to the shifter throughthe selector valve, means for controlling the application ofiiuidpressure to the servomotor to move it from high to low andintermediate speed positions, clutch operating means and detent meansreleased by operation oi the clutch operating means for preventingmovement of the valve from intermediate to high speed position until itis released.

PHILIP M. CARTER. LOUIS A. LARSEN.

